Running the Christian Life

The annual Belfast City Marathon takes place on the 7th May. There will be up to 15,000 people taking part. Participants will be running, walking, doing a relay race and using their wheel chairs. To many this is a serious event but to others it is a fun event.

Paul in 1 Cor 9:24 gives us an example of a race to get across his teaching.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

It is true that tomorrow there will only be a prize for the runners who take winning positions but Paul exhorts us to run that we may obtain. Many in the marathon are not running for the 1st prize but for the prize of completing the race. I am sure that you would agree that anyone who completes a 26-mile marathon is a winner. Others are trying to make as much money for charity as possible. Their prize is a material prize and as time goes on it will become only a memory.

We who are Christians are running for a greater prize.

Philippians 3:14 – I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

There will not be too many running with excess weight or clothing on the day of the marathon. Everyone knows that to run the race you need to carry as little as possible.

Hebrew 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Galatians 5:7 - Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

We need to get rid of all excess baggage in our lives. We should have nothing to do with the world, the flesh and the devil. I am sure many get dishearten during the race and it can be the same for the Christian but we are to run with the prize in mind and run with patience.

It is not important how long you live in this life or how much money you accumulate. The important thing is that you fight a good fight, that you finish the course and that you keep the faith. Paul was able to say in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

How encouraging it is see and to hear of Christians who have run the race well and have finished the course keeping the faith.

Matthew 25:23 - His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

How are you running today?

Have you laid aside every weight?

Are you running for the prize?

How great it must be to hear those words – Well Done.

How great it must be to receive the crown of righteousness.

2 Timothy 4:8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Young person run with patience, for the finishing line is not that far away.